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(No Model.)

RESTONE. FRUIT BLEACHER.

Patented July 24, 1883.

E g m UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

RALPH E. STONE, OF OSVVEGO, NIHV YORK.

FRUlT-BLEACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,940, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed March 27, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. STONE, of Oswego, in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit Bleachers, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists, essentially, in the construction of a chamber provided at its base with a fumigant-receptacle, a fruit-rack over the same, and a fume-exit above the rack, by which arrangement the fruit deposited on the aforesaid rack becomes effectually bleached in in a most convenient, reliable, and expeditious manner.

The invention alsoconsists in the combina tion, with the aforesaid apparatus, of certain auxiliary devices, all as hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is an I isometric view of my improved fruit-bleacher.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section 5 Fig. 3, avertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 00 ac in'Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line yy, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A represent two square or rectangular chambers placed adjacent to each other and separated by the vertical partition P. The bottom of each of said chambers is provided 'with a port, a, over which is placed a slide, 8,

which is extended through a port, 0, in the base of the partition I? and in line with the two ports a a. A lever, Z, connected with said slide and projecting through the side of the chamber A, allows the slide 8 to be shifted, so as to open one port, a, while closing the other, two stops or gates, f f, being secured to the slides in such relative positions as to encounter the opposite sides of the partition at the proper time to arrest the movement of the slide and simultaneously close the port a in the partition.

b designates a receptacle for the sulphur, by the combustion of which the requisite fume is generated for bleaching the fruit, said receptacle being secured to the slide 8, so as to cause it to be transferred from one chamber to the (No model.)

other simultaneously with the opening and closing of the ports a a, as hereinbefore described, the fumigant-receptacle I) being car ried into that chamber A in which the bleaching process is to be carried on, and in so transferring said receptacle the port a in said chamber is closed to exclude the air, while the port of the other chamber is opened to admit a current of air for the purpose of cooling and ventilating the same preparatory to removing thebleached fruit and introducing a new supply to be bleached.

R denotes an oscillatory rack, formed of slats, secured at or near their center crosswise to a bar which is mounted in suitable bearings 011 opposite sides of the chamber, and is adapted to rock or turn thereon, one end of said bar protruding through the side of the chamber, and being provided at the exterior thereof with a suitable handle, m, by whichto shake or tilt the rack. By means of a cleat, 0, fixed to one of the inner sides of the chamher, the rack R is supported in a horizontal position, and another cleat, 0, fixed at the opposite inner side some distance below the level of the rack, serves to limit the rocking or tilt ing motion of the rack. Along the top of the cleat 0 an opening is formed in the side of the chamber, which opening is closed by a door, D. The described rack is designed to support pared whole fruit to be bleached, which is introduced by the means and in the manner hereinafter described. After the bleaching is accomplished the rack can be tilted and caused to deliver the fruit through the opened door D and into a suitable receptacle placed 011 the outside of the chamber.

Above the rack R, I place in the chamber A The top T of the two chambers A A, I protwo openings, r'r, directly opposite the two V apertures g g aforesaid, and these openings r1- are closed from the inside of the flue by doors h h, hinged at their top edge above the said Openings. 1 denotes a chute fitted to enter the opening 1, and formed with an inclined bottom and with vertical sides, having their inner end, it, beveled, so that by pushing the chute into the opening 1- the sides of the chute will crowd the door h inward and upward, and thus automatieally open the same.

The fruit to be bleached is taken direct from the fruit-dresser or paring-machine to the bleacher, so as to avoid exposing the fruit to the air as much as possible. It is introduced through the chute 2', from whence it passes through the apertures 1 down to the drawer d or rack B. So soon as this is accomplished the chute is withdrawn, when the door h will drop and automatically close the openinr, to prevent the escape of the fumes through the $811116.

Having described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a fruit-bleacher, the combination of a chamber provided with a door in its side, a l'umigant-reeeptacle at the base of the chamber, an oscillatory fruit-rack over the fumigant-receptacle, and communicating at its lower edge with the side door of the chamber and a fumeeXit above the 'fruit-raek, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the chamber A, provided at its base with the ports a a and valve 8, and with the fumigant-receptacle b, the door D, arranged in the side of the chamber, the rack R, adapted to rock toward said door, and aventiduct applied to the top of the chamber,

substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

3. The combination of the chamber A, provided with the ports a a and Valve .9, fumigantreceptacle 6, and door D, the oscillatory rack It, perforated'or slotted drawer d, and ventiduct E, substantially as shown.

4. The combination, with the chambers A A, placed adjacent to each other and provided, respectively, with racks R R and a ventiduct, E, the partition I, provided with the port 0, the bottom B, provided with ports a a, and the slide .9, provided with the stops f f and with the iumigant-receptacle I), substantially in the manner described and shown.

5. In combination with the bleaching-chant bers A A, the top T, provided with the aperturesgy, the superstructed flue F, extended over said apertures and provided with doors 71, h, and the chutes z i, adapted to enter said doors, substantially as described and shown, for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with the bleaching-chambers A A, provided at the top with. the apertures g g, the superstructed flue F, provided with the exit E and having openings 1' r,with the doors 71 h, hinged at their top edge, and the chute 1, having its sides formed with the beveled ends a, substantially as described anda shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and aflixed my seal, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 7th day of March, 1883.

RALPH E. STONE. [L. s.]

Vitnesses:

O. H. DUELL, F. H. GIBBS. 

